97. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport for details of his agreed approach with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to prevent learner permit renewals without sitting a driving test, under action 27 of the Road Safety Strategy; the details of the RSA implementation plan; the proposed date to implement the plan in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37506/24]

My Department and the Road Safety Authority have agreed an approach to addressing the issue of ongoing renewal of learner permits without sitting a driving test. It is intended that there will be a requirement to take a driving test before renewing a second learner permit and that there will be a limit to the number of renewals that can be made before a learner must start the learner driver process again.

Discussions on the details of implementation are ongoing between the Department and the Authority and the RSA is working on an implementation plan. Phased implementation will be required, to provide for the development of IT systems, increased testing capacity and revision of driver training and the test curriculum. The intention is to proceed when the driver testing backlog is resolved.